Synchronous weapon firing system

ABSTRACT

Control apparatus and method to coordinate the synchronous firing of two or more rifles with electronic firing systems.

CROSS REFERENCE

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application, Ser. No. 60/628,200 filed on Nov. 16, 2004.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to the synchronous discharge of multiple weapons and, more particularly, the synchronized discharge of multiple rifles or other handheld weapons.

2. Description of the related art

In the prior art, various mechanisms are known for discharging weapons, particularly handheld firearms. For many years, the predominant firing mechanisms have generally operated on a percussion principle. More recently, however, alternative firing systems have been developed. Included are systems that detonate ammunition by applying an electrical charge to the round.

In one example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,646,367 shows a priming mixture for use in small arms. The priming mixture is ignited electronically as opposed to a percussion priming system. In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,755,056 shows an electronic firearm that utilizes electronically activated ammunition.

The synchronous firing of multiple weapons has been a persistent difficulty in the prior art. For example, sniper teams are sometimes tasked to strike multiple targets. For human targets, it is preferred that each member of the team fire simultaneously at a selected target because the targets seek cover after the first shot is fired. Where hostages or other non-combatants are at risk, simultaneously debilitating multiple targets also would decrease their risk of bodily harm. However, such simultaneous firing was difficult to affect in the prior art because it was difficult to reliably synchronize the firing of multiple weapons—particularly under combat conditions.

The presently disclosed system overcomes the difficulties and shortcomings of the prior art by enabling the synchronized discharge of a plurality of rifles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the presently disclosed invention, a system for precisely and safely synchronizing fire from multiple weapons directed to a respective plurality of targets includes a mode selector switch on each firearm. The mode selector switch is positioned to enable the firearm to function either normally or in a synchronized mode. The system also includes a transmitter/receiver on each firearm. The transmitter/receiver transfers data to and receives data from other firearms either directly or through a control unit that allows the firearms to discharge simultaneously. The system further includes a programmable controller from which an operator selects: (i) the number of weapons to be enabled in the system; (ii) the minimum number of weapons that are required to fire simultaneously; and (iii) one or more priority rifles to fire. At least one priority rifle must be included in the minimum rifles to fire.

Preferably, data transfer between firearms or between firearms and the controller includes, but is not limited to, any of the following methods: satellite, infrared, UHF, VHF or electrical wiring.

In the method of the disclosed invention, when the marksmen are in position, each marksman will acquire a respective target through his rifle scope. When a particular marksman has a firing solution (i.e. the rifle is trained on the target) he will depress and hold his trigger. The marksman holds the trigger as long as he continues to have a firing solution. The marksman releases the trigger when he no longer has a firing solution. At the time when the triggers of at least a minimum number of enabled rifles are depressed simultaneously, all of the rifles with depressed triggers will synchronously fire. Preferably, the minimum number of enabled rifles must include a priority rifle for which a priority target has been designated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. shows a electrical circuit schematic for each firearm.

FIG. 2. shows a diagram of the key pad and processor that controls multiple firearms.

FIG. 3. illustrates the view through the rifle scope having an LED when a 2 gun system is used.

FIG. 4. illustrates the view through the rifle scope having an LCD when more than 2 guns are used.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a circuit schematic of apparatus that is incorporated in each firearm that is included in the synchronous system that is herein disclosed. At times when master switch 10 is closed, the circuit is powered via an 9 volt battery 12. At times when a mode select switch 14 is in the normal position (shown in phantom in FIG. 1), the firearm will function in the usual manner such that when the trigger switch 16 is closed by depressing the trigger on the weapon, an electrical voltage is applied across an electronic igniter 18 causing igniter 18 to fire the cartridge.

At times when the mode selector switch 14 is in the synchronous position (shown in solid lines in FIG. 1), the weapon is enabled in the synchronous mode. When the weapons are combined in a 2-weapon system, depressing the trigger on the first rifle closes switch 16 and voltage is applied across transmitter/receiver 20 of the first rifle. Transmitter/receiver 20 on the first rifle then transmits an encrypted signal to a second transmit/receive unit 20 on the second rifle. When the signal transmitted from the first rifle is received at the unit 20 on the second rifle, the signal causes transmitter/receiver 20 on that second rifle to close switch 22 in the transmit/receive unit 20 of the second rifle. At the same time, the signal from the first rifle that is received at the transmit/receive unit 20 of the second rifle illuminates a light emitting diode (herein “LED”) 24 on the second rifle. The LED is preferably located in a scope mounted on the second rifle and indicates to the marksman with the second rifle that the trigger on the first rifle is depressed. However, under these circuit conditions neither rifle will fire because the switch 22 on the first rifle is still open and the trigger switch 16 on the second rifle is also still open.

When the trigger on the second rifle is depressed, it closes switch 16 on the second rifle. This energizes transmitter/receiver 20 on the second rifle causing it to transmit an encrypted signal to the first rifle that causes the transmitter/receiver 20 on the first rifle to close switch 22 on the first rifle. If the trigger on the first rifle still remains depressed, switch 16 on the first rifle and switch 22 on the first rifle are both closed to complete a circuit through switches 16 and 22, battery 12 and igniter 18 to energize igniter 18. Similarly, closing switch 16 on the second rifle closes the circuit through switches 16 and 22, electronic igniter 18 and battery 12 on the second rifle. Thus, closing trigger 16 on the second rifle completes the circuit through electronic igniter 18 on the second rifle and also closes switch 22 on the first rifle to complete the circuit through electronic igniter 18 on the first rifle so that both rifles fire synchronously.

However, if the trigger on the first rifle is lifted before the trigger on the second rifle is depressed, switch 16 on the first rifle opens. That interrupts the signal from transmitter/receiver 20 on the first rifle to the second rifle. In that case, transmitter/receiver 20 on the second rifle causes switch 22 on the second rifle to open so that neither rifle will fire. The first rifle will not fire because switch 16 on the first rifle is open to open the circuit to igniter 18 on the first rifle and the second rifle will not fire because switch 22 on the second rifle is open to open the circuit to igniter 18 on the second rifle.

Thus, in the two-rifle system, when one of the marksman has an open shot, he depresses his trigger and holds it. The LED illuminates on the other rifle indicating to the second marksman that the first marksman is on target. When both marksmen are on target and simultaneously depress their triggers, both rifles will discharge simultaneously. If either of the triggers are not depressed, neither of the rifles will fire.

When using more than 2 rifles, an electronic wireless digitally encrypted key pad 26 such as shown in FIG. 2 is used. The key pad 26 is operated by a spotter or squad leader. The key pad 26 includes an internal controller (not shown) that allows the operator to select the number of weapons included in the system; the minimum number of weapons that must be on target (i.e. triggers depressed) before any single weapon can discharge; and which weapons are designated as “primary” (meaning that the non-primary guns will not discharge unless the trigger is depressed on one or more of the primary weapons.

When more than 2 guns are used, a liquid crystal display (herein “LCD”) that is visible through the marksman's rifle scope is used instead of the LED that is used in the two weapon system. The LCD indicates to each of the marksman the number of required minimum triggers that are not depressed. As each additional trigger is depressed and held, the number indicated by the LCD decreases. When the LCD falls below “1,” all of the weapons with depressed triggers synchronously discharge. This “countdown” of the number of triggers that still need to be depressed allows each marksman to anticipate the point at which the rifles will synchronously fire.

Returning to FIG. 2, when more than two guns are used, the control unit 26, (including processor and key pad) receives respective encrypted signals from respective transmitter/receivers 20 on each of the rifles. Each of the transmitter/receivers 20 provides a distinctive signal that is tuned so that the control unit 26 can distinguish each of the rifles separately. The control unit 26 processes the definitional information regarding number of enabled weapons, minimum number of weapons that will fire, and identification of the priority weapon or weapons. That information is input from the keypad. The control unit 26 then transmits an appropriate command signal to each of the rifles that are selected by the keypad commands to be included in the group of weapons that are enabled in the system. The command signal to each rifle toggles a switch 14 on each of the selected rifles to a position that enables the rifle in the synchronous mode.

Referring to the control unit 26, the unit includes an off/on power button and an LCD indicator 28 that shows the current status of the system as well as data as it is entered. The GOS (guns on system) button 30 enters the number of weapons to which the unit 26 will be transmitting data or from which unit 26 will be receiving data. The M button 32 (minimum guns to fire) selects the minimum number of weapons that must have depressed triggers before any of the weapons will fire. The P button 34 (priority guns) selects one or more specific weapons that must be included in the “minimum guns to fire” or the minimum number of weapons that must have depressed triggers before any of the weapons will fire. The AND/OR button 35 selects the number and selectivity of the priority guns. That is, key 35 selects the number of priority weapons and the order sequence of those weapons. The ENTER button 36 enters the keyed data into the processor. The CLEAR button 38 clears previously entered data from the processor. The STATUS button 40 shows the current system status in the LCD indicator 28. A transmitter/receiver unit 42 transmits encrypted data to and receives encrypted data from the enabled rifles.

Depressing the status key will cause the controller to place a readout message on the LCD indicator 28 describing the present status of the system. For example, the message could indicate the specific number of guns that are included in the system, the minimum number of guns that are required to have simultaneous shooting solutions before any gun will fire, and which guns are priority weapons.

By way of a specific example, an indicator of “G10/M7/P3 or P7” on indictor 28 could mean that ten guns are active in the system and that at least seven guns are required to have a shooting solution before any weapons can discharge. According to the example, of the seven guns that are the minimum number, either gun number 3 or gun number 7 is a “priority” weapon—meaning that gun number 3 or number 7 must be included in the minimum number of seven guns with a shooting solution.

Each of the weapons are enabled or included in the group of selected weapons by positioning the selector switch 14 in the synchronous mode. As the trigger in each weapon of the group is depressed, the transmitter/receiver 20 for that weapon transmits a signal back to the control unit 26 indicating that the weapon has a shooting solution. The control unit 26 processes the respective signals from each of the weapons to determine if the conditions for synchronous firing are met. Namely, the control unit 26 determines: (i) whether the minimum number of weapons are transmitting from the transmitter/receiver (and therefore have depressed triggers); and (ii) whether at least one of the weapons that is transmitting from the transmitter/receiver has been designated as a priority weapon. When both conditions are satisfied, the control unit 26 transmits a signal back to all of the enabled weapons in the group to cause their respective transmitter/receivers 20 to close the corresponding switches 22. Within each weapon, closing the switch 22 while switch 16 is also closed (because the trigger is depressed) closes the circuit to energize the weapon's electronic igniter 18 causing that weapon to fire. Thus, for those weapons in which the trigger is depressed to close the trigger switch 16, all of the weapons will synchronously fire. Until both of the above conditions are met, the control unit 26 will not transmit any signal back to the respective transmitter/receivers 20 of the weapons so that none of the weapons will fire.

Alternative embodiments of control unit 26 can include a wireless PDA or similar device wherein data is entered to a controller through a touch screen. Alternatively, the wireless device can also include GPS mapping capability. This enables the device operator to monitor the physical location of each shooter in real time.

FIG. 3 illustrates the view through the rifle scopes when a 2 gun system is used. The red lighted LED 44 which physically attaches to the rim of the rifle scope indicates to the marksman that the other marksman on the 2-rifle system is ready to fire.

FIG. 4 illustrates the view through the rifle scope on a system including the LCD that is used on systems with more than 2 guns. The LCD displays a number in the sight representing the “minimum number of guns to fire.” The LCD displayed number will decrease in response to the depression of each additional trigger of a weapon on the system. Thus, the LCD counts downward from the “minimum number of guns to fire” as each additional trigger is depressed. In FIG. 4, the number 2 indicates that if 2 more triggers are simultaneously depressed, all the rifles in the system will synchronously fire.

The presently preferred embodiment is designed to adapt to a Remington Etronix or similar rifle that ignites the cartridge via an electronic pulse and electronically activated primer as opposed to the standard percussion type system. The two position mode selector switch 14 has positions normal (in phantom) and synchronous. In the normal position, the rifle fires according to its standard design. With selector switch 14 in the synchronous position, the rifle fires synchronously with one or more additional rifles on the system.

When only two rifles are used together, depressing the trigger on one rifle sends a digitally encrypted signal to the second rifle. That signal illuminates an LED that is visible to the marksman on the second rifle and closes one of two switches in the firing circuit that must be completed for the rifle to fire. When the trigger is depressed on the second rifle, it causes a corresponding illumination if an LED on the first rifle and also closes one of two switches in the firing circuit that must be completed to energize the igniter. When the triggers on the first and second weapons are both depressed simultaneously, the second switch in each of the respective firing circuits is also closed and both weapons fire synchronously.

When more than two rifles are in the system, a control unit 26 (that includes a processor and a key pad) is operated by a squad leader or spotter to synchronously discharge the rifles. Through the use of the control unit 26, the system is quickly programmed with the number of rifles on the system, the minimum number of rifles that are required to fire simultaneously, and the number (one or more) of primary rifles. The term “primary” indicates that—of the rifles to fire, the primary must be included.

Each rifle has its own unique encrypted signal. Each rifle can be set up to communicate to the other rifles and control unit 26 via any wireless signal including but not limited to satellite, infrared, vhf, uhf or by a wiring system that will physically attach to the rifles. 

1. For a system for synchronizing a plurality of weapons to fire on a plurality of targets wherein each of said weapons is fired by activating an igniter, apparatus that is mounted on each weapon in the system, said apparatus comprising: a trigger switch that is closed at times when the weapon is commanded to discharge and that is open at times when the weapon is not commanded to discharge; a mode selector switch that is electrically connected to the trigger switch, said mode selector switch having a selected position that enables the weapon to discharge in synchronization with other weapons in the system; a weapon transmitter/receiver that is electrically connected to said mode selector switch, said weapon transmitter/receiver being responsive to the closure of said trigger switch to transmit signals at times when said mode selector switch is positioned to enable the weapon to discharge in synchronization with other weapons in the system; and an activation switch that is operatively associated with said weapon transmitter/receiver, said activation switch opening and closing an electrical connection between the trigger switch and the igniter in response to input signals to said weapon transmitter/receiver.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the weapon transmitter/receiver is a wireless device.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said wireless device communicates by at least one of infrared signals, satellite signals, VHF signals or UHF signals.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said weapon transmitter/receiver transmits signals and receives signals through electrical conductors.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the synchronizing system includes two weapons, said apparatus further comprising: a signal confirmation LED that illuminates in response to a signal to the weapon transmitter/receiver that is located on the same weapon on which the signal confirmation LED is located, said signal to the weapon transmitter/receiver being from a second weapon transmitter/receiver that is located on the other weapon.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, said apparatus further comprising: a programmable controller that includes an operator interface, said programmable controller being responsive to command signals to the operator interface to define: a. the weapons that are to be enabled in the system; b. the minimum number of enabled weapons that can synchronously discharge; and c. at least one weapon that is required to be included in the minimum number of enabled weapons that synchronously discharge; and a controller transmitter/receiver that is associated with said programmable controller, said controller transmitter/receiver being responsive to signals from weapons transmitter/receivers of respective weapons in the system to identify when the trigger of said weapon is depressed, said controller transmitter/receiver also sending signals to a plurality of weapon transmitter/receivers that are enabled in the system.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said operator interface is a key pad and viewing screen.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the synchronizing system includes two or more weapons, said apparatus further comprising: a signal confirmation LCD that illuminates in response to a signal to the weapon transmitter/receiver on the same weapon on which the signal confirmation LCD is located.
 9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the synchronizing system includes two or more weapons that have scopes, said apparatus further comprising: a signal confirmation LCD that illuminates in response to a signal from the controller transmitter/receiver, said signal indicating that the controller transmitter/receiver is receiving an input signal from the transmitter/receiver of at least one weapon, said signal confirmation LCD indicating the minimum number of weapons that are required to discharge synchronously minus the number of signals from weapon transmitter/receivers that the controller transmitter/receiver is receiving.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the signals from the weapon transmitter/receiver are encrypted.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the signals between the weapon transmitter/receiver are encrypted.
 12. A method for synchronizing a plurality of weapons to fire on a plurality of targets wherein each of said weapons has an igniter for discharging the weapon and also has a trigger switch that is closed in response to actuating a trigger, said method comprising the steps of; a. selecting a mode on each of the weapons that enables the weapon to discharge only in synchronization with at least one other weapon that is included in the plurality of weapons; b. depressing a trigger on a first weapon to cause a signal to be transmitted to at least a second weapon to indicate that the trigger of the first weapon is depressed and to complete an electrical connection between the igniter and trigger switch in the second weapon; c. depressing a trigger on the second weapon to cause a signal to be transmitted to at least the first weapon to indicate that the trigger on the second weapon is depressed and to complete an electrical connection between the igniter and trigger switch in the first weapon; and d. discharging at least the first and second weapons in synchronization at times when both the trigger of the first weapon and the trigger of the second weapon are simultaneously depressed so that the trigger switch of the first weapon is closed while the electrical connection between the igniter and the trigger switch of the first weapon is completed, and the trigger of the second weapon is also closed while the electrical connection between the igniter and the trigger switch of the second weapon is completed.
 13. The method of claim 12 wherein an LED on the second weapon indicates that the trigger on the first weapon is depressed and wherein an LED on the first weapon indicates that the trigger on the second weapon is depressed.
 14. A method for synchronizing a plurality of weapons to fire on a plurality of targets wherein each of said weapons has an igniter for discharging the weapon and also has a trigger switch that is closed in response to depressing a trigger, said method comprising the steps of; a. setting a programmable controller that transmits command signals to the plurality of weapons, said controller settings identifying the weapons that are to be enabled for synchronous firing and also identifying the minimum number of weapons that must be synchronously fired; b. depressing the respective triggers on at least two weapons that are enabled to discharge in synchronization to cause respective signals to be transmitted to the programmable controller, said signals indicating that the respective triggers of the weapons are depressed; and c. transmitting signals from the programmable controller to each of the enabled weapons at times when the triggers of said minimum number of weapons are simultaneously depressed to complete an electrical connection between the igniter and trigger switch in each of the weapons; and d. synchronously discharging the weapons that are enabled and in which the triggers are depressed and in which the circuit is completed between the trigger switch and the igniter.
 15. The method of claim 14 wherein an LCD on the weapons indicates the number of weapons among the minimum number of enabled weapons in which the trigger is not depressed. 